Justice H K Rathod passed an order directing Secretary, Department of Rural Development (DRDA) and the district co-ordinator, Sabarkantha District Panchayat, Himmatnagar to inquire whether those working under the scheme are getting proper wages as per the notification or not, how many such persons are working in the district and to produce statement showing actual wages being paid by the concerned authority to them.

The court has also asked the state government to file a detailed affidavit in reply as to why the scheme has not been properly implemented or looked after by authorities. Mashurben Makwana, of Balisana village in Prantij taluka, had said in her June 12 petition that she was being paid Rs 4 per day instead of the Rs 60 stipulated in the scheme.

She also said that she was asked to get her own digging implements, for which she had to sell her jewellery. The case has been filed by her and voluntary group Sabar Ekta Manch, with assistance from another Ahmedabad-based group Janpath.

Advocate Mukul Sinha, who appeared on behalf of Makwana, said: ‘‘The court observed that this is a hard reality that good schemes (like NREG) are announced but when it comes to implementation... that is what happens.’’

The NREG scheme of the UPA government promises at least 100 days of employment every financial year to adults who volunteer for unskilled manual labour in districts chosen under it. Mashurben, the sole breadwinner for five boys and a girl, was enrolled in the scheme from February 20 to March 10.

But her dreams were shattered when she received her first payment. They paid less than Rs 4 per day. That too it was only after two months, she said. In fact, she was unaware that she should have been paid Rs 60 daily till Sabar Etka Manch filed an application under the Right to Information Act.